Today is Olympics Day at our elementary summer camp.  Kids will be competing in a variety of fun and crazy games today and winning interesting prizes.  Whenever I think of competition I am reminded of my sports days.  I remember how hard I would work to try and be successful for whatever I was competing in, particularly baseball.  I also am reminded of the following passage from I Timothy 4, let’s look at it together today.

Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives’ tales; rather, train yourself to be godly. 8 For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come. 9 This is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance. 10 That is why we labor and strive, because we have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of all people, and especially of those who believe. 11 Command and teach these things. 12 Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity. 13 Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to preaching and to teaching. 14 Do not neglect your gift, which was given you through prophecy when the body of elders laid their hands on you.

Physical training is important.  The Bible doesn’t knock it.  We are simply reminded of the even more significance of godliness.  How much do we “train” for that?  I don’t know if any of the kids have been in training for the ice cream eating competition they will have in camp today but I do know we should all be in training in our spiritual lives.  I love Paul’s words in Philippians –  “What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in him…  Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. 13 Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”  Let’s press on toward our goal of knowing Jesus more and more, embracing His love, and sharing that love with the world.